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Volume XXII, Issue VI June 2013
The mission of the Ad Valorem Division of the Oklahoma Tax Commission is
to promote an ad valorem property tax system which is fair and equitable
to all taxpayers by implementing standard valuation methodology, tax law
conformity, and assessment administration compliance.
Oklahoma
Ad Valorem F O R U M
“IAAO Zangerle Award Winner:
1997 and 2010”
Director’s Notes:
This was an unusual June in more ways than the usual ad valorem twists and turns. For the first time in
many years the State Board of Equalization held two meetings in June.
At the first meeting, the State Board of Equalization approved all abstracts except a few county documents
that did not arrive by the June 12 deadline for the June 13, 2013 board meeting. (The statute actually sets June
15 as the official deadline so technically we received all abstracts by the statutory date, including one abstract
accidentally sent to the Department of Indiana by someone at the postal department.) We’ve now forwarded
all of those to the State Auditor for certification.
At the first meeting, the Board also placed Caddo County and Sequoyah County in full compliance status.
This has been several years in the process, and as I indicated at the Board meeting, we felt that both counties
have been working hard and making substantial progress. We hope they can continue with the improvements
they have made, especially since the 2013 audit is underway.
At the second meeting on June 24, 2013, the State Board established the fair cash value for airlines, railroads,
and public service corporations for 2013. The Public Service Section worked really hard over the last few
months to value 254 companies for this year. It was especially challenging this year since this was the first time
the valuation process was impacted by the passage of SQ766 which exempted intangible personal property.
As you know after Board certification and the State Auditor and Inspector mail-out, the protest period
of twenty days will begin.
We’ve talked several times with David Tinsley, Matt Wehmuller, the Oklahoma County folks and several
other counties with storm damage. They’ve all been working really hard to get things ready at the county
assessor level to adjust property information as needed.
All of the assessors and deputies I have talked with seem to agree the hard part is just beginning for many
of our fellow Oklahomans. They face major obstacles as tough as the wind and property damage with all the
uncertainty surrounding their circumstances. Public attention is fickle sometimes with some new events taking
the attention to other issues; folks affected by the storm still have to battle all the challenges of reassembling
their lives and sorting out all the details of everyday existence that we never think about on a daily basis. It is
hard enough to keep your head in the game on a regular basis, but it’s even tougher without transportation,
street signs, power and water, lost credit cards, property repair contract, and the loss of personal property
and pictures of loved ones. So keep them in your thoughts. For many Oklahomans some of the hardest times
are still ahead.
Sincerely,
Jeff Spelman, CAE
Director, Ad Valorem Division

Volume XXII, Issue VI June 2013
The mission of the Ad Valorem Division of the Oklahoma Tax Commission is
to promote an ad valorem property tax system which is fair and equitable
to all taxpayers by implementing standard valuation methodology, tax law
conformity, and assessment administration compliance.
Oklahoma
Ad Valorem F O R U M
“IAAO Zangerle Award Winner:
1997 and 2010”
Director’s Notes:
This was an unusual June in more ways than the usual ad valorem twists and turns. For the first time in
many years the State Board of Equalization held two meetings in June.
At the first meeting, the State Board of Equalization approved all abstracts except a few county documents
that did not arrive by the June 12 deadline for the June 13, 2013 board meeting. (The statute actually sets June
15 as the official deadline so technically we received all abstracts by the statutory date, including one abstract
accidentally sent to the Department of Indiana by someone at the postal department.) We’ve now forwarded
all of those to the State Auditor for certification.
At the first meeting, the Board also placed Caddo County and Sequoyah County in full compliance status.
This has been several years in the process, and as I indicated at the Board meeting, we felt that both counties
have been working hard and making substantial progress. We hope they can continue with the improvements
they have made, especially since the 2013 audit is underway.
At the second meeting on June 24, 2013, the State Board established the fair cash value for airlines, railroads,
and public service corporations for 2013. The Public Service Section worked really hard over the last few
months to value 254 companies for this year. It was especially challenging this year since this was the first time
the valuation process was impacted by the passage of SQ766 which exempted intangible personal property.
As you know after Board certification and the State Auditor and Inspector mail-out, the protest period
of twenty days will begin.
We’ve talked several times with David Tinsley, Matt Wehmuller, the Oklahoma County folks and several
other counties with storm damage. They’ve all been working really hard to get things ready at the county
assessor level to adjust property information as needed.
All of the assessors and deputies I have talked with seem to agree the hard part is just beginning for many
of our fellow Oklahomans. They face major obstacles as tough as the wind and property damage with all the
uncertainty surrounding their circumstances. Public attention is fickle sometimes with some new events taking
the attention to other issues; folks affected by the storm still have to battle all the challenges of reassembling
their lives and sorting out all the details of everyday existence that we never think about on a daily basis. It is
hard enough to keep your head in the game on a regular basis, but it’s even tougher without transportation,
street signs, power and water, lost credit cards, property repair contract, and the loss of personal property
and pictures of loved ones. So keep them in your thoughts. For many Oklahomans some of the hardest times
are still ahead.
Sincerely,
Jeff Spelman, CAE
Director, Ad Valorem Division